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By Lisa CornwellASSOCIATED PRESS • Friday July 5, 2013 4:02 AM

A program that takes military veterans to Washington to view war memorials is limiting new
applications from Ohio and neighboring states because of decreased funding, a program spokesman
said this week.

A decline in funding has led organizers of Honor Flight Northwest Ohio to stop accepting new
applications from World War II veterans who already have seen the memorials and from veterans of
other conflicts, including the Korean and Vietnam wars.

But the group hopes to eventually serve all veterans already on the waiting list, regardless of
the war involved, said Jim Tichy, a spokesman and former board member for the Toledo-based
group.

The program originally was created to take World War II veterans to Washington to see the
National World War II Memorial, but veterans from other wars have been included on the trips that
also stop at other memorials.

More than 600 veterans already on the list include northwestern Ohio residents and some from
Michigan and Indiana. The group has seen an influx of applicants from adjacent states as other
honor-flight hubs have closed, Tichy said.

The number of veterans has continued to grow, while donations from organizations and individuals
have declined for the program that began in 2008. But the volunteer organization is committed to
trying to keep offering flights.

“It’s a daunting task when you look at the number of veterans, but we are working diligently to
try to make it possible for all veterans who want to take the trips,” Tichy said. “It’s our
opportunity to thank them for the sacrifices they made to preserve our freedom.”

Each chartered flight costs around $72,000 for about 80 veterans and a corresponding number of “
guardians” who go on the trips to help. There were six flights last year and four scheduled this
year, Tichy said.

World War II veteran Al McEwen, of Maumee, Ohio, took one of the flights about four years
ago.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have that opportunity,” said McEwen, 94. “And it
was so wonderful to know that people appreciate all that we did.”

Tichy said other honor-flight hubs in Ohio include Dayton, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati,
Findlay and the Akron-Canton area.

Bill Nicklas, vice president of Honor Flight Dayton Inc. in southwestern Ohio, said that
donations have remained fairly steady for the flights that cost about $15,000 each. The
organization based in Springfield takes smaller groups and doesn’t have to charter flights.

He said the group takes around 35 veterans plus 22 staff members and guardians on trips once a
month from April through November.

The Dayton group takes World War II and Korean veterans, but doesn’t include Vietnam veterans
other than as guardians.